A key reason to maintain your septic system is to save money! Failing septic systems are expensive to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is often the culprit. Having your septic system inspected (at least every 3 years) is a bargain when you consider the cost of replacing the entire system. Your system will need pumping every 3 to 5 years, depending on how many people live in the house and the size of the system. An unusable septic system, or one in disrepair, will lower your property’s value and could pose a legal liability.

Homeowners should pay as much attention to their septic tanks as their roofs. The No. 1 cause of septic tank failure is "out of sight, out of mind."

Septic system failures also can be a source of E. coli, which can lead to kidney failure and death in children and the elderly. But even ordinary days can pose problems. Doing too much laundry on a single day can overtax a system. Roots of trees near tanks can block field lines. Driving over septic systems or covering them with hard surfaces, such as concrete patios or asphalt driveways, can damage lines and limit evaporation. Washing chemicals down the sink can kill bacteria needed to break down sewage.